Elinor S. Rice Hays (October 12, 1901 – March 21, 1994) was an American biographer and novelist.

[3] During her first marriage, Rice ran a bookshop[4] and wrote three novels.

[15][16] With Novack she was friends with writers Lionel and Diana Trilling.

Her second husband was judge Paul R. Hays; they married in 1949; he died in 1980.

[1] Her research materials about the Blackwells, and some personal papers, are in the collection of Columbia University Libraries.